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Laying plastic mulch over planting beds is an uncomplicated task, but doing it on a large scale consumes time and labor. Automated mulch layers make the process more efficient, but commercial layers are pricey, putting them out of the reach of many small growers. Some resourceful growers with engineering skills, however, have been able to design inexpensive, effective solutions to the mulch-laying problem.

Plastic Mulch

Plastic mulches have been in use by commercial growers since the 1960s. They consist of a thin layer of plastic that is laid over the crop planting bed before planting and pushed tightly against the soil. The mulch covering helps raise soil temperature and retain moisture, which results in fewer pest and weed problems, earlier crop maturity, higher yields and increased crop quality. Plastic mulches have proven particularly effective in the production of crops such as melons, squash, cucumbers, strawberries and cut flowers.

Laying Mulch

Growers lay plastic mulch, which comes from the manufacturer in rolls, by unrolling the plastic over the planting rows. Plastic mulch works best on raised beds that aid in increasing the soil temperature, so bed preparation is a critical step in the mulching process. The mulch also performs best when it is in firm contact with the soil, so the grower should take care to ensure that the mulch lies flat, with no air spaces between the soil and the mulch.

Commercial Layers

Because laying plastic mulch by hand is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, farm equipment manufacturers have developed automated mulch-laying machines to make the task easier and faster. Automated mulch layers are tow-behind attachments that are pulled by a tractor. Commercial layers have components that form the raised beds, unroll the mulch and keep it in place, pressing it firmly into the soil. Some layers can also be fitted with attachments to provide irrigation, fumigation and fertilization.

Homemade Solutions

Commercial mulch layers are expensive, and small-scale growers may not need all the add-on options that commercial layers offer. However, even small-scale growers can benefit from an automated mulch-laying solution, and some growers have designed and built homemade layers. These layers may be as simple as a roller that mounts under a tractor and unspools the mulch, leaving it to the tractor wheels to keep the mulch in place and press it into the soil. Other solutions are more complex, with shovels that form the beds and disks that position the mulch. A basic mulch layer is not a complex machine, but building one requires mechanical aptitude and metalworking skills.

About the Author

Evan Gillespie grew up working in his family's hardware and home-improvement business and is an experienced gardener. He has been writing on home, garden and design topics since 1996. His work has appeared in the South Bend Tribune, the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Arts Everywhere magazine and many other publications.